This plan is designed to have a Facilitator guide the study and a Facilitation Assistant support the study. All instructions are identified for Facilitators. A separate document (cell content) is meant to be shared.
This cell plan is based on the sermon given by pastor Michelle on Sunday, July, 7, 2024.
Prepare Ahead
- Read Cell Vision Statement
- Read and reflect on Luke 19:1-10. For greater context of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem read Luke 17:11-19:27
- Facilitator/Assistant of each group to discuss ahead to share different sections
- Note: Question 1 has been designed to allow cell members to ease into question 2, primarily, but also question 3. Feel free to focus on question 1 and testimony sharing from 3 and 4 if questions 2 and 3 are too heavy for the group.
- Note: The sub questions from question 1 that have been boldened are not included in the cell content version. Feel free to include or exclude as you feel fit.
- This plan incorporates testimony sharing in questions/statements 3 and 4. Facilitator/Assistant you are encouraged to prepare and share your own testimony; however, feel free to also let your cell (or specific cell members) know ahead of time so that there is opportunity for others to reflect and prepare their sharing.
- Link to sharable version for members: Cell Content
Opening
Facilitator: If there are new members today joining for the first time. Ask everyone to share their name, hobby, goals for the year. Feel free to change up the question here to dive into different areas of people’s lives (work, family, hobbies, etc.)
Icebreaker question: What is the most memorable experience you’ve had this year (or last year)?
Alternative question: What would you want to be doing in your final moments on earth?
Worship
Go into musical worship if someone is scheduled. Continue to ask if members of the cell are willing to in the future.
Assistant: Please pray for the group to begin the study.
Facilitator/Assistant: For those who would like to continue the prayer exercise please read the Worship/Prayer portion of the following link: Prayer Exercise
Word
Luke 19 : 1-10
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Context and Sermon
Facilitator: This context section sets the foundation of the discussion. Going through the main takeaways.
- You can begin this section by asking the cell what their immediate thoughts are for this passage.
After a round of responses and conversation, read through the below and provide context of the passage and sermon ahead of the discussion.
Background/Sermon Highlights
- Jesus was at the end of his three year ministry spreading the good news of God’s kingdom, and was on his way to Jerusalem to conclude his earthly mission.
- While approaching Jerusalem, Jesus had been teaching through parables, healing the sick, restoring the outcast, and preparing his disciples for the great commission.
- Oftentimes, the truths that Jesus taught or the miracles he performed were opposed by Israel’s proud and boastful leaders, but welcomed by those that were poor and/or humble.
Reference, you can ask someone to read this section for context: Luke 1:1-4
- Reminds us that Luke (the author) has undertaken the task of compiling the testimonies about Jesus, so that Theophilus and generations to come (like us) would hear and believe the things that we have been taught.
- In today’s society it is often believed that wealth equals happiness. Those that pursue earthly riches are often too proud and boastful to accept the things of God.
- People with great wealth who live for themselves often appear happy and content in pictures; however, when you examine some of the wealthiest people and places in the world you see a very different picture.
- Those that live only for this life, despite having achieved luxury and high status, suffer from “hollow syndrome”.
- When we examine the lives of those who found Jesus, we see a deep sense of joy and fulfillment, regardless of what they have or do not have.
- If we are not careful we too may end up like Israel’s leaders of old, or the self-seeking wealthy individuals of today, and be too proud and boastful to accept God. With this contrast in mind and the testimony of scripture:
Scriptural reference: Mark 8:36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
We are left with this one truth:
- Meet Jesus and be saved! Saved from the penalty of our sins. Saved from the emptiness of materialism. Saved from the delusion that earthly riches bring. Saved for a life that God has intended.
- As Jesus calls us into this new life, a life free from the power and penalty of sin, let us be like Zacchaeus who gladly welcomed him.
Discussion
Facilitator/Assistant: The discussion today will focus on our relationship with God. If there are nonbelievers in your group the hope is that they hear and obey God’s call to repent and believe. Similarly, as believers we are continually called to draw closer to God. Allow for the night to be one that encourages and/or challenges the group to draw closer to God. Whether a nonbeliever, new believer, or seasoned believer God calls all of us to Himself.
Facilitator/Assistant: Ask the following questions, the goal is to facilitate conversation, not a Q&A, this section doesn’t have to have everyone share their personal thoughts but try to get everyone in the conversation. The sub-bullets are suggested follow up questions to guide the conversation.
Note: Questions/statements 3 and 4 are geared towards nonbelievers but have been tailored to incorporate testimony sharing from Christians. Feel free to listen to a few testimonies (as time permits). Questions have also been added to promote further discussion. Feel free to include as little or as much as you sense is relevant to your groups dynamic.
- What do you pursue in life (work, relationship, dreams, etc)?
- Have the things you’ve accomplished brought you satisfaction?
- What things do you do, currently, that leave you feeling a sense of joy and satisfaction/fulfillment?
- What do you hope to accomplish in the next 10, 20, or 30 years?
- What experiences in life steal your joy and/or leave you feeling drained?
- What (if anything) leaves you feeling unsatisfied?
- How do you want to be remembered?
- Do you have emptiness syndrome? Do you experience feelings of emptiness or feelings of aimlessness?
- Are there days that feel pointless or wasted?
- Are there areas of your life that feel aimless (work, downtime, interests, etc.)
- Are you seeking Jesus, who alone can fill that emptiness?
- Is there an area in your life that has not been filled by Jesus (Is there an area in life that you have not submitted to Jesus)?
- How have you experienced Jesus filling the emptiness in your life (In what ways have you experienced Jesus’ love and power in your life–directly or through the kindness of others)?
- Jesus came to seek and save sinners. Share a time you have encountered God.
- Are there people that you know who don’t know Jesus? What can you do to help others know Him?
- Meet Jesus and be saved!
- Do you feel you have a relationship with Jesus? Do you feel you have a growing relationship with Jesus or does it feel stagnant?
Witness
- Follow up: For people who missed last cell, did anyone reach out to them to check in? Continue this exercise by following up this week with anyone who couldn’t make it this cell
- Cell Activity: During the period of 7/22 – 8/4, cells are encouraged to plan an activity to spend some time together outside of the normal cell setting. Assign 1 or 2 members to help plan for this activity. As an option, you can reach out to another cell to see if you can do a joint fellowship activity!
- Cell Dates: Confirm future cell dates and mark it down in the document as far into the future as possible to help the planners schedule properly!
- Christmas EV: On Dec 20, 2024, we will be having our annual Christmas EV dinner evening. This year, worship ministry is heading up the annual Christmas EV dinner with dinner, and then a Worship EV night, headed up by Xiao. We are starting to gather interest in people who would like to help out with this event, and we would like to start early (August) in planning and preparing and working together to bring the vision of the Christmas EV dinner together.
- We want to offer many opportunities to serve for this evening for anyone who is interested in the roles:
- 1. Event planning team (Will meet 3-4 times to keep the organizing of the event on track and check in with how everything is going)
- 2. Worship EV planning team (Will meet once/twice a month for Aug/Sept to discuss and plan out the worship portion of the evening. Doesn’t have to be part of the actual worship team)
- 3. Worship team (Will meet during November/December at least 4 times to practice through the worship set)
- 4. Hosting Team (Greeters – Generally just greet and meet people and get to know new people and friends who come. Help seat people etc)
- 5. Hosting Team (Waiting – We’d like to have something more special and formal for everyone, so we’d like to have some people who want help wait and serve tables)
- 6. Food Team (Prepare/coordinate/work on food for the evening)